Roof structure



Mar h 18, 1 5 P. WEIDLINGER 2,827,002

ROOF STRUCTURE 'Filed June 4, 1953 ATTORNEY United Sttes Patent ROOFSTRUOTURE Paul Weidlinger, New York, N. Y., assignor to the UnitedStates of America as representedby the Secretary, of the ArmyApplication June 4, 1953, Serial No. 359,545

6 Claims. (Cl. 108-1) My invention relates to roof structures and moreparticularly to such structures wherein flexible roof fabric is drapedbetween arcuate frame members in catenary curves.

In such structures the usual horizontal purlins, X-struts or the likecannot be used to connect the frame members because they engage andraise the draped fabric so as to form pockets in the upper surface inwhich rain water, leaves, etc., collect whereby to rot the fabric. Thisproblem is particularly acute where the arcuate frame members are formedwith a substantially flat curve. In such roofs it is essential that eachcatenary curve of the fabric be unbroken throughout whereby to provideopen troughs draining downwardly from the crests to the eaves.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providea roof structure including frame members, connecting struts or the likeand flexible roof fabric overlying said frame members and struts anddraping between said members in catenary curves without more thantangential contact with the struts.

A further object is to provide an improved roof structure includingflexible fabric draped in catenaries and means for supporting andbracing the roof without distorting the catenaries.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of theinvention, the structure of the elements thereof, combinations andarrangements of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing inconnection with the following specification, wherein the invention isshown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view through a roofstructure embodying the invention taken substantially on the planes ofthe line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof; and

Figures 4-8 inclusive are respectively diagrammatic longitudinalvertical sectional views taken substantially on the planes of the lines4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference charactershave been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, 10,10 are suitable uprights which support a plurality of arcuate roof framemembers 11. The frame members 11 are maintained in spaced and parallelrelation by struts 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the struts arestraight and each extends from the region of the crest 13 of one framemember 11 to the region of an eave portion 14 of an adjacent framemember 11. Preferably the struts 12 are arranged in pairs as shown sothat two are connected to oneframe member in the region of its crest 13and extend in downwardly diverging directions to the regions of the eaveportions 14 of an adjacent frame member.

The roof proper comprises a body of flexible roof fab- V catenaries 16and ofthe frame members 11, together with the construction andarrangement of the struts 12 is such that the latterha've no 'more thana tangential contact with theund'ersur'face of the fabric 15 at anypoint along "the' leng thofeacl'r' strut. Thus, the fabric 15 cannot be10 upwardly distorted at any point by the' struts 12 whereby thecatena'riesl'fi proyide unobstructed drainage channels inopposite'directions from 'the crests thereof to the'eave's. Asaforesaid, this is particularly desirable in a structure such as isherein disclosed where the curve of the frame members is a substantiallyflat one. Of course, the invention is equally applicable to all curvedroofs irrespective of the curvature or the type of curve. At the sametime, the frame members 11 are adequately braced. Obviously, additionalstruts 12 crossing those shown could be added if necessary.

In the structure illustrated, the arched members 11 have circular arcssubstantially 60 in length. Clearly the im vention is applicable tocircular arcs of any length up to Moreover, it is believed that theinvention is applicable to structural members having non-circular arcssuch as parabolas, hyperbolas and the like.

In any form of the invention, the length of the arc of the archedmembers 11, the spacing of the same from each other, and the depth ofdrape of the catenaries must be so calculated that the struts 12 have nomore than tangential contact with the undersurface of the covering.

15 throughout the length of the struts. Actually, such: contact is notnecessary and may even be undesirable.. Hence, in practice sufiicientspace between the covering: 15 and struts 12 should be left to allow thecovering to stretch in use and still have no more than a tangentialcontact with the struts.

Thus, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be apreferred form of the invention, it is obvious that the same issusceptible of other concepts and expressions. Consequently, I do notlimit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove,except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a roof structure, a plurality of arcuate rafterlike frame members,each frame member having two eave portions and a crest portion, rigidand substantially straight struts connecting said frame members togetherin spaced parallel relation, each strut extending from the region of thecrest portion of one frame member to the region of an eave portion of anadjacent frame member, flexible roofing fabric overlying said framemembers and draping therebetween in catenary curves, and the curvatureof said frame members as well as the catenary curves of said fabricbeing such that each strut throughout its length is substantiallytangent to the undersurface of said fabric whereby to assure unimpededdrainage from the upper surface of said fabric.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said struts are arranged in pairs,each pair having inner ends connected to one frame member in the regionof the crest thereof, and each pair having outer ends connected to anadjacent frame member in the region of said eave portions thereof.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein all of said struts are ofsubstantially the same length.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said frame members are formed witha substantially flat arch.

5. In a roof structure, a plurality of spaced, parallel, arcuate,rafter-like frame members each having two eave portions and a crestportion, straight rigid struts connecting adjacent frame memberstogether, each strut extending from the crest portion of one framemember to an eave portion of an adjacent member, flexible roof fabricoverlying said frame members and draping therebetween incaternarycurves,andthe arch curvature as -well asthe fabric catenary being such thateach ,strut. throughoutits length is substantially tangent to theunder-surface of said fabric, whereby to assure,unimpededrdrainagefromthe upper surface of said fabric. 7 5. l 5

'6. In a roof structure, the combinationwith a plu- Y rality of spaced,parallel, arched, rafter-like, frame members each having at least oneeaveportion and a crest rigid and substantially straight strutsconnecting adjacent frame members together, each strut extending-fromthe 15 region of the crest portion of one frame member to the region ofthe cave portion of an adjacent frame member, and each of saidstruts'beiug constructed and arranged to be substantially tangent to theundersurface of said fabric throughout its length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,545,556 Pont Mar. 20,1951

2,592,465 Pont Apr; 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 France Apr. 28, 1936.

